Needle-stopping mechanism for sewing-machines.



No. 687,696. Patented Nov. 26, mm.

F. w. osmom.

NEEDLE STOPPING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES .Application filed Dec; 6, 1900.) (No Model.)

4 Sheets-Sheet I.

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Patented Nov. 26, l90l.

F. W. USTROM.

NEEDLE STOPPING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES.

JApplication filed Dec. 6, 1900.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

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No. 687,696. I Patented Nov. 26, 190i.

F. W. USTROM.

NEEDLE STOPPING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES.

(Application filed Dec. 6, 1900.)

(N0 Model.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

WITNESSES:

I 0k m VENTOH Myfifidw BY A TTOHNE Y Patented Nov. 26, l90l v F. w. osmom. NEEDLE STOPPING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES.

(Application filed Dec. 6, 1900.)

4 Sheets-Sheat 4.

(No Model.)

lNVENTO/i WITNESSES UNITED STATES ATENT FREELAND W. OSTROM, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO WHEELER & WILSON MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

NEEDLE-STOPPING MECHANISM FOR SEWING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 687,696, dated November 26, 1901.

Application filed December 6, 1900. Serial No. 38,904:- (N 0 model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREELAND W. OSTROM, a citizen of the United States,residing at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Buttonhole-Sewing Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of this invention is to provide means for arresting the movement or action of the needle of a sewing-machine without thereby or therewith stopping the other moving parts of the machine and so that while the stitching may be stopped in case of the breaking of the needle-thread or for other cause the feed of the material may go on as usual, thus enabling an operator to make the machine itself without manual interposition position the work for the resumption of stitching after an interval of cessation of nee: dle action. 7

The invention consists of a sewing-machine of the character herein described having an individual needle stop-motion interposed be tween the needle and its prime mover and controllable at the will of the operator independently of the rest of the moving parts of the machine, substantially as I will proceed now more particularlyto set forth and finally claim.

For purposes of illustration I have shown my invention applied to a buttonhole-sewing machine in which the cloth holding and feeding mechanism is essentially similarto that shown in the patent of Andrew C. Campbell, No. 303,557, dated August 12, 1884:, and the machine-stopping mechanism is in all essential particulars like that shown in my Patent No. 352,775, dated November 16, 1886; but it is to be understood that this invention is applicable to machines of other construction and whether such machines have an automatic or other stop-motion or not.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, in the several figures of which like parts are similarly designated, Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of the wellknown Wheeler & Wilson buttonhole-sewing machine supplied with the present improvement, part of the actuating-lever being broken off. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the opposite side of the machine, the cloth-clamp and the mechanism below the cloth-plate being omitted. Fig. 3 is a side elevation, on a larger scale, showing the details of the needle-stopping mechanism in the beginning of the actuating movement. Fig. 4 is a View similar in part to Fig. 3, with the needle-bar link removed and its connecting-arm in section, showing the first step in stopping; and Figs. 5 and 6 are views similar to Fig. 4., showing the succeeding steps in stopping the needle. Fig. 7 is an end view, the lever being in cross-section and the needle-carrier being full down. Fig. 81s a View similar to Fig. 7, the needle-carrier being at the full upstroke. Fig. 9 is a face view of the stationary member of the clutch.

, The cloth or bed plate A, the overhanging arlnB, the reciprocating needle-bar or other form of needle-carrier C, the needle-bar shaft D, and the main shaft E, together with the complemental stitch-forming mechanis on, may

be of any usual or approved construction and are herein so shown.

The clamp for holding and feeding the material and its actuating mechanism may be, as already indicated, such as shown in the Campbell patent referred to, and its parts are designated generally by the letterF. The machine-stopping mechanism may be, as also hereinbefore stated, such as shown in the Ostrom patent referred to, and its parts are designated G.

Upon the outer end of shaft E is a clutch member a, adapted to slide loosely upon said shaft and within which the shaft is free toshaft D. A spring f is arranged upon the shaft D back of the collar e and is retained by a set-collar g in proper tension normally to project forwardly the yoke and clutch member a. The clutch member a is provided with a notch or key-seat h, which extends also into the shaft D, Fig. 8.

The stationary clutch member t' is a disk fixedly secured to the end of the shaft D,- as by a screwj or other means, and having a key or spline 7a, which is caused to engage with the notch h in the shaft and movable clutch member a to effect the oscillation of such clutch with the shaft D, and thereby reciprocate the needle, and to be disengaged from such member a to stop the reciprocation of the needle without interrupting the oscillation of the shaft. To effect these operations of the clutch, I provide a lever Z, pivoted to the overhanging arm and projecting over the free end of said arm within convenient reach of the operator and normally elevated by a spring m, secured to it and some stationary member. The upward movement of this lever is limited by a stop-pin n in the arm. This lever has a cam-lug 0, which cooperates when the lever is depressed with a cam-lug p on the movable clutch member a and moves said member a away from and out of engagement with the fixed member t' as said member a is moved in one direction and as seen in Fig. 5, and thus the member a, freed from engagement with the shaft D, is no longer oscillated by said shaft, and consequently the reciprocation of the needlebar is arrested, while the other portions of the machine, including the feed mechanism and complemental stitch-forming mechanism, continue to run. Hence an operator may stop the needle instantly whenever necessary, as upon the breaking of the needlethread, and the work will continue to be moved automatically without contact with the needle until the machine-stopping mechanism is automatically or otherwise actuated, and therefore the operator can start the stitching anew at any desired point without manually setting the work. By a further downward movement of the leverits cam=lu g g is brought into contact with the face of the member a to insure the continued separation of the member a from the member 1' as long as desired, and this lug q thus serves as a safeguard against the accidental rengagement of the clutch member due to any carelessness on the part of the operator in holding the leverZ down. The leverZ will be held depressed as long as it is desired to arrest the movement or action of the needle,

and immediately the lever is released the springf restores the operative connection of the clutch members.

The lever Z may be provided with a slot and screw r to restrain lateral movement.

I have thus described one illustration of my invention; but I wish it to be understood that my needle-stopping mechanism is capable ofapplication to other machines than that herein shown and its construction will be varied accordingly. While I esteem it of importance to use my needle-stopping mechanism in connection with a machine-stopping mechanism which is automatic and also under the control of the operator, so as to provide for the positioning of the interrupted work relatively to a proper resumption thereof, still I may use the needle-stopping mechanism alone.

What I claim is 1. In a sewing-machine, a needle, a needlecarrier, complemental stitch-forming mechanism, and actuating mechanism forsaid needle-carrier including a main shaft, a clutch mechanism mounted upon said shaft and an actuator therefor, normally inactive and under manual control, whereby to control the action and inaction of the needle at the will of the operator, substantially as described.

2. In a sewing-machine, a stitch-forming mechanism including a needle and needlecarrier, and means for manually and independently controlling the action and inaction of the needle and its carrier during the opera tion of the machine, including a clutch mech= anism, and an actuator therefor normally inactive and under manual control, in combination with a stopping mechanism for arresting the action of the rest of the machine, substantially as described.

3. In a sewing-machine, a needle and nee dle-carrier, a driving-shaft therefor and connections between the two, including a clutch having a peripheral cam-lug on its movable member and a lever having a cooperating lug, substantially as described.

4;. In a sewing-machine, a needle and needle-carrier, a driving-shaft therefor, a clutch member arranged loosely upon said shaft and capable of sliding thereon, a complemental clutch member fast on said shaft and means to throw said movable clutch member into and out of engagement with the fast member, to start and stop the needle at pleasure and without interrupting the movement of the rest of the machine, substantially as de* scribed.

5. In a sewing-machine, a clamp for holding and feeding the material, actuating mechanism for the clamp, a needle, a needle-carrier and complemental stitch-forming mechanism, a main shaft for giving to the needle carrier its vertical movements, a clutch mech anism mounted upon said shaft, one member of which is provided with a cam portion, and a clutch-controlling lever fulcru med to a sta-' tionary part of the machine and having a lug adapted to cooperate with the aforesaid cam portion of the clutch member, substantially as described.

6. In a sewing-machine, a clamp for holding and feeding the material, actuating mechanism for the clamp, a needle, a needle-carrier and complemental stitch-forming mechanism, a main shaft for giving to the needlecarrier its vertical movements, a clutch mechanism mounted upon said shaft, one member dental hitch-up of the clutch member, subof which is provided with a cam portion, and stantially as described. 10 a clutch-controlling lever fulorumed to a sta- In testimony whereof I have hereunto set tionary part of the machine and having a lug myhand this 5th dayofDeoember, A. D. 1900.

5 adapted to cooperate with the aforesaid cam FREELAND W. OSTROM.

portion of the clutch member, and also hav- Witnesses: ing an auxiliary lug to cooperate With the face WM. H. FINCKEL,

of said clutch member to insure against aeci- E. A. FINOKEL. 

